An employee accused of committing an arson attack on his workplace may have threatened his boss hours before the fire, a jury heard.

Neil Trott, 41, is alleged to have stolen several rugs and a roulette table from Mitra Johnson, owner of Auction De Mitra, in Booth Hall, on Court Street.

He is also alleged to have burned down the building, formerly a Salvation Army Church, sometime between June 30 and July 1 last year. Trott denies charges of burglary and arson.

Supreme Court heard that Trott, formerly of Loyal Hill Pass, in Devonshire, was employed to do hustles for Mrs. Johnson on and off for two years.

On the morning of June 30, Trott allegedly came to the antique store looking for work, but was told his help wasn't needed.

Giving evidence yesterday, Mrs. Johnson said: "It was a very quiet day so I was sitting in the office doing some paper work. (Trott) came in about 11.30 a.m. that morning and asked me for work. I said it was quiet, there is nothing really to do. We do not have any work right now."

She continued: "He was just hanging around even though I said 'I do not need you' and he went and got some beer and he was sitting on the stairs of the shop. I said do not sit on the front of the stairs drinking beers and smoking cigarettes. It's not good for business."

During examination by Crown counsel Nicole Smith, Mrs. Johnson said she gave Trott $25 for dusting the store. He left the antique store to do another hustle, but returned angry and said he had missed another job, Mrs. Johnson claimed.

"He came back an hour or so later. He was very, very hyper. He was sweating and he was angry. I said what is the matter. He told me that I made him miss (a job)."

When part-time employee, Norris Simpson, arrived at the store on his way to deliver a dryer to Somerset, Trott insisted on helping and jumped into the truck, the court heard. The two men came back from the job after 5 p.m., but Ms Johnson did not receive the $50 payment they were supposed to collect from the customer.

According to her testimony yesterday, Mrs. Johnson was on her way to a Michael Jackson tribute event at Camden Park, and locked the windows and doors at the antique store. She also put a padlock on her office on the first floor.

Mrs. Johnson then went to The Supermart, on Front Street, to get some snacks and some money to pay the men for their work. According to her testimony, she gave Trott an additional $20 for the day, but he became disgruntled.

"He would not leave me alone. He made a scene right outside The Supermart. I had to call Police," said Mrs. Johnson. "He started cursing and carrying on which I didn't appreciate," she said.

"He was so mad that he said 'I am going to burn your f***ing shop down', just like that."

Police were called to the scene and told Trott to leave or he would be arrested — then he left, the court heard.

Hours later, after going to the event at Camden Park, Mrs. Johnson said she got some things from her office and locked up the property again around 10.30 p.m. Then at 1 a.m. she got a call from Mr. Simpson saying the shop was on fire.

Yesterday, the six man six woman jury watched security camera footage showing a man entering the property at 11.26 p.m. on June 30, last year.

Mrs. Johnson was adamant the man — who covered his head with a jacket — was Trott, represented in court by lawyer Peter Farge.

She said: "That is what he was wearing that day and he had his glasses and he had a cross around his neck."

Mr. Farge briefly began cross examination yesterday and will continue his questioning this morning before Puisne Judge Charles Etta Simmons.